Whose got your back ?

Today I got up with such high hopes of making it to work early. That was my early morning goal...until I worke up with the beginning of a headache that turned into a migraine.

Well, it changed the schedule of my day.

Thanks Cindy and Jessica. You were my eyes and my connection to NPCC base. It's great to have co-workers who care about you. Cindy does a lot of behind the scenes work which appears as visuals to convey messages for all of the various environments at NewPointe. She is quite impressive with her creativity. Jessica has grown so much over the past year since she came on staff. What a fantastic addition she has been to the Family Life department and our church staff. Thanks ladies.

Things don't always go the way you expect

That's how it is for all of us. At least most of the people I know have experienced the best laid plans don't always work. I had hoped to blog while in Florida on vacation, it didn't work. When I got back, the pace was pretty fast and here I am really needing to go to bed but feeling so guilty about being away from BlogWorld for so long.

There's been so much that has happened so here's a brief outline:
*Vacation was great: good times with the grandkids, kids and making the long haul to Destin, in the Florida panhandle. It ended up being well worth the 18 hour drive. The water...emeral green, white beach - was breathtaking.
*Len had his heart cath when we returned .. Praise God - no heart disease or any problems.
GOD is GOOD...GOD is GREAT !!
*My grandchildren are such a joy and provide me with lots of smiles and chuckles: Josh with his heartfelt prayers for his Big Papa before surgery, Paige with her fashion sense and giggles, Tori with her fresh phrases only an ornery 2 year old can say and make you ooh and ahh...such as "Oh my goodness"; "Hany, watch this.."; her newest request to "Hold on" while mommy is dressing her. Too cute !!
*Dr. Hany Rizkalla, returned home today to Cairo, Egypt after staying with Len and I for a few weeks this summer. He's a great friend and I highly respect his advice and counsel sessions with me. Len and I love him very much and we will miss him.
*I've heard from many of my friends from Bring Me Hope Camp in Beijing China which I attended in July. I cried from many of their stories...it was good to hear from them. Best of all...it was great to hear from my friend who accepted Christ.
*I praise God for all the volunteers who helped me do Summer in The ReignForest at NewPointe. Connie, Geneva, Doreen, Day - thanks for your help during the week.
*The Summer is over...my summer flowers are spent and need to be pulled, it makes me sad.
however------
*New work, challenges, growth, excitement shines bright with each sunrise that the Lord provides and now...
*It's time for sleep---

Kudos to Entertainment - MLL

Recently, a couple came in to NewPointe and the 14 year old said "Hey, this place is like a Jesus Mall."

Well, evidently some might think that...it is a place where people like to shop. Sure we have people who are shopping for entertainment, a welcome, a healing, a helping hand, perhaps even a life-changing experience.

My husband, Len, took the opportunity to invite the sales manager where he works to Married Life Live (MLL). Yeah- a night of entertainment. They really had a good time. We enjoyed showing them a place where we love to come on the week-ends. Where we get connected, get our serving fix and get spiritually fed.

They were so jacked about the night that Larry mentioned to Len they were planning on visiting some Sunday and that they would bring their family.

Guess what ? They showed up this past Sunday...all of them, their adult children, spouses, grandchildren - WOW, that's really cool isn't it. Len and I were both tied up with our Sunday morning roles so our friends Tom and Vernita came to the rescue and gave these guests personal assistance helping them find out where to go and how to get the kids registered. That's what people do who are connected and have that family sense of belonging...they step up and take care of one another, even to the point of caring for friends of friends.

We are blessed with a relevant and cool environment where our friends and neighbors can be invited to come and find a personal welcome. Also they will find the best eternal care plan presented and a life changing message.

OH Yes, Larry and Carla are bringing their children back to Married Life Live on August 18th. We have other plans, but cool beans, they want to come on their own.

You might want to start now to take the time to invest and invite someone to MLL. You might light up someone's world with more than entertainment.

Part 2 The reality of pouring into my cup

Are there times when you just can't believe what has happened to you? Well that's what it's been like for me this entire week.

One of those moments on Thursday, this new friend, Leeann and I are talking and even though we had known each other for only a couple of hours, it felt like she'd been my friend for life. It was during a pretty intense part of sharing some life stories that I realized that this person was pouring into me. I not only wanted her but expressed to her that I needed her in my life. Because at that moment she was giving me something like a very personal message from God. At first, I was stunned but then it was clear to me. This woman is a "prayer prophet". I told her that and she asked me "What's that? What do you mean." I answered her something like I honestly don't know other than that was the term that I heard in my head.

The message she was delivering wasn't something new that I was hearing for the first time but it sure felt like it. There I sat listening and drinking in every word she was saying. At one point I just broke down and cried. I think I was in awe of the Spirit of God moving in the room between the two of us.

Here's the reality of those moments when God is pouring into your life (your cup) from someone else. You need to take responsibility and listen to what they are saying. Ponder it, research it, look it up or talk about it with someone else..say like with God.

Bottom line here's what she shared: "take the following verse literally, do it, don't miss it any day, make it the biggest priority of your life."
Matthew 6:6 (NIV)
6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

You see I want a deeper life of intimacy with God, one that rocks my world. So someday when I stand before Him and give an account of my life I will hear Him say "Well done thy good and faithful servant." (Matthew 25:21)

Stirring Love

My dear friends from Egypt wrote me recently sharing their joy of this past week-end. Palm Sunday is the day we remember Jesus' "triumphal entry" into Jerusalem, exactly one week before His resurrection (Matthew 21:1-11). Below, I insert a portion of that letter from my friends, who inspire me with a stirring letter of celebration of love for Christ, for me, my family and the recent Egypt team. I look forward to the day we will be joined together in heaven to have an eternal celebration time. Are you stirred by HIS love for you today?

..."we missed you today we were at the church the morning meeting the Lord
blessed us we remembered the crowds that went ahead of him shouting
Hosanna to the son of David blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord
Hosanna in the highest then the whole city was stirred and asked Who is this?
He came for our sins to crucify to forgive us to give us the everlasing life and to
gather us together with Him for ever and one of His coming results we knew you
as our dearest sister in Him"

dear Faye we love you as Jesus loved us do you feel that? we feel that deeply
our greetings to you and your family and we send our greetings through you
to all our brothers and sisters of our lovely team each one by his name
God bless you till we meet again Ramzy&Esther love for ever

Yes, I do feel your love. Thank you for your love and encouragement Ramzy & Ester.

Turn your cup over.

I really enjoy our Family Life Staff meetings. (There was a time they were alright but somewhat frustrating because they felt superficial.) Now I look forward to hearing what Kevin, Director of Family Life at NewPointe, has to share with our team. The man cares about his relationship with Christ and takes it to heart what his role as a leader means. So much so that he spends a lot of time reading (A LOT) so that he has something to pour into us. He reminds us that "you can't give what you don't have". So that means I do more reading than I've ever done before in my life. I take it to heart that I need to seek God and strive to have a growing intimate relationship with Him. You see, it's not my husband's responsibility to grow me spiritually, or Kevin's, it's not Dwight's (our Lead Pastor at NewPointe) to be responsible for my spiritual development although they may be participants in it. Bottom line, it's my responsibility to develop an intimate relationship with God. The cup needs to be up and ready during reading of His Word, prayer time, at Family Life meetings, listening to Dwight speak, reading books, listening to a volunteer's story, through a conversation with a staff member or perhaps even with someone I meet at Wal-Mart. This is something I need to work on ...making sure my cup is turned over, ready to receive what God may be wanting to pour into me from someone else.